Power WOMEN
L’officiel is talking to “Power Women” of Monaco – ladies who are proving that there is no limit to what women can accomplish. Frédérique Marsan impresses us by being a force of change and source of inspiration. She is bringing beauty to this world through her multiple business ventures and is a prime example of a “Power Woman“.
What is your definition of power woman?
History lists many women who have led great people. I could define “power woman” as an active woman who is free to make her own choices. Today women play an important role in Monaco, some hold important positions, run companies, are at the head of certain Monegasque institutions. There is a genuine equity between men and women here.
What is special about being a woman in Monaco?
It’s a real privilege to be Monegasque! Monaco is a multicultural country and I like it a lot. Women from different cultural backgrounds bring diversity and a different approach to trends or beauty and therefore are the reason for constant evolution. What I like about my team in “Cool Bay” is that we have 11 different nationalities, and they bring their own secrets and unique techniques to the table.
How do you use “women power” in business?
It’s about the power of partnership and desire to create something that helps achieve great things together. I’ve had my partner for 35 years – Alexandra Fissore . We started together with a boutique at Monte Carlo Beach. We like to build something, when it’s made, we move further and build new things. Now we have “Cool Bay” in Montecarlo Bay, “Dry Bar” in Le Meridien, and we opened a corner hairdresser in our store in Monte Carlo Beach. It’s a new concept to mix beauty and fashion. We like decoration and we’ve eventually founded “Ekle” and now it’s become a very big company on renovation and decoration. Last year, We opened a shop of decoration in Saint Tropez. So it’s like an eternal dynamic when you have inspiration for moving and creating more and more. And what inspires us a lot is that our children have grown up and are now starting to get involved in business.
“If you want to keep on moving and develop your business you should attract young people and give them freedom to express themselves” Frédérique Marsan
To be a “power woman” now you also have to be progressive, how do you look for innovations that you can implement in your salon?
First, I communicate a lot – I discover something new through friends who own beauty businesses in Paris and around the world, we share new experiences and insights. I ask my Russian friends as they are always up to date with innovations and products. This is how we’ve just brought a new machine “Ruby Cell” made by Elodie Raheria from the beauty center “Seemy” in Paris and a completely natural stray “RSTR” for skin and hair, which is unique in its kind and is developed by the amazing Rollén family. It’s also a reflection of “women power” when women exchange information, findings, and creations for the sake of beauty. And I also like to discover something new during my travels and bring the best to “Cool Bay”.
How do you manage to be a business lady and a mother and to live an intense social life? Can you describe your typical day?
As my son is studying in Paris, I’m a part time mother now. I get up very early every morning, around 5.30 a.m., and that is my rhythm, morning is a magical time. I start my day super relaxed, reading, meditating, doingsports and then I can start my working day, either in the office at “Ekle” or in the “Cool Bay” salon, I organize my time according to appointments, work, meetings. In summer I have extremely busy days. A lot of people come to Monaco and it’s a high season for our business. In the evening I am often among friends or at some events or I also spend time at home in a calm atmosphere after a busy day.
As a founder of one of the best beauty salons in Monaco, can you share some beauty secrets?
Nowadays there is such a wide range of natural products, for the skin and hair, so why not use them?my beauty routine is simple but innovative. I am a big fan of “Ruby Cell” made entirely from natural plant strains, it’s a revolution in the field of skin aesthetics and I also use “RSTR”, an all-natural product that hydrates and nourishes skin. I’m lucky to have very good hair, but I still do various treatments regularly as we have a huge line of different natural hair treatments at “Cool Bay“. And also I do not smoke or drink alcohol, it is just not my thing.
What is key to success as a “power women“?
It’s curiosity - you should be curious about life, be open minded. I am not old but I am not young anymore either, I’m 58. And if you want to keep on moving, and develop your business you should attract young people and give them freedom to express themselves, I think it’s our strength of me and my partner that all our employees are very young, with their new ideas and new ways of seeing life.